BRIN Researcher Says Prabowo "Hasty" in Labeling Riots as Treason

September 4, 2025 | 08:25 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Siti Zuhro, a political researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), considered President Prabowo Subianto's statement on treason during the late August protests to be hasty. According to her, riots, despite resulting in casualties and damage, cannot automatically be categorized as an attempt to overthrow a legitimate government.

She explained that a treason charge is only legitimate if there is clear evidence to overthrow a sovereign government. "Protests, demonstrations, which escalate to destructive actions, even causing casualties, are not synonymous with treason," said Siti Zuhro when met at the parliament complex, Senayan, on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

Siti warned the government to be cautious in throwing out treason accusations. "There may be provocateurs. But to conclude that it is treason is premature. I highly doubt there is treason in this day and age," she said.

Siti responded to Prabowo's statement calling the burning of the South Sulawesi Regional House of Representatives building treason. When visiting injured police officers at the Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, Jakarta, on September 1, Prabowo expressed his anger over the incident that killed four civil servants (ASN) in Makassar.

He ordered a thorough investigation into those responsible for the act. "Remember! In South Sulawesi, four innocent and politically uninvolved civil servants became victims. The DPRD building was burned, this is an act of treason, not an expression of aspirations," said Prabowo.

The incident in Makassar, South Sulawesi, occurred during a demonstration rejecting several local government policies, which led to riots. The crowd burned down the DPRD building, causing severe damage and killing four ASN who were on duty inside the building.

Although there is potential for provocation in the action, Siti emphasized that the government cannot recklessly label it as treason. "Riots usually stem from collective expressions of anger, not an intention to overthrow the government," she said.

On a separate occasion, the Executive Director of Trias Politika Strategis, Agung Baskoro, considered the President's statement as an early warning, which needs to be thoroughly investigated and not just pointing fingers at the demonstrators. "We cannot turn a blind eye because there are casualties. Therefore, this case must be thoroughly investigated to identify anyone involved," said Agung when contacted on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

Agung said the treason accusation should not solely be directed at protesters. According to him, security forces could also potentially be responsible. "Setting a building on fire requires significant resources such as fire and gasoline," he said. "It's not a simple matter."

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